“You are bursting with Chiara’s legacy”, Maria Voce told the young people from the USA during two lively hours of music, graphics and a confiding exchange of experiences and questions.

Up close and in person, it’s always a different story. In fact these young people had often seen Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti on DVD, their tone of voice was familiar, everyone knew how simple and uncomplicated they are. However, they were always president and co-president of one of the world’s biggest Ecclesial movements. The excitement among the 130 Gen (young people closely involved in the Focolare) who came from all over the USA for the event was therefore understandable. But any tension was dissolved once the meeting began. The backdrop: a snow-covered Mariapolis Luminosa, the Focolare’s ‘little town’ two hours north of New York.

First stop "Luminosa", the Focolare little town situated in Hyde Park (NY)

Here in Luminosa, the Focolare town for North America, the welcome was second to none. For the visit of Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti, it was as if the unusually long winter had been prearranged, so that the snow on the ground would enhance the appearance of the buildings surrounded by woods and grassy banks. While the two important guests were visiting the offices of Living City and New City Press, a group of agile deer passed by just 10 meters away from the surprised visitors. “It never happened before’, the residents exclaimed. “It's the presence of the media” was the thought of others.

A memorable evening was held by the Focolare Community in Montreal thus concluding the important visit to Canada by Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti.

PRESS RELEASE:

In 2011 the Focolare marks its 50-year milestone in North America with anniversary celebrations throughout the United States and Canada.